QMX Star Trek General discussion thread

[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

You know, we can whine and blame companies for “greed” and the dirty word known as “the bottom line” but we are not the ones responsible for these companies and, yes, their BOTTOM LINE. We need to pause and get some perspective. It’s easy to be an idealist when all that you have to lose is an action figure.

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

I don’t exactly know how QMX/Nanjin got away with the prices they did. I mean it seems like literally every other manufacturer of licensed figures charges more. $180 for figures while great is kind of unheard of anymore, and I have to wonder how much profit was left after taking everything into account (production cost, overhead cost, licensing, etc.). I’d be curious to know the actual base price on a lot of these figures and how much companies are taking for profit, which granted is the goal of business and to be expected.

I'd like to know more as well.

now, MY opinion is formed around what I UNDERSTOOD from nanjin's "peek behind the curtain" info he's provided. And if my suspicions of Howard are true, then he's no different from any huge corp. that snuffs out anyone challenging the status quo...and that makes me despise him even more.

Like say a kind of medicine is affordable in other countries, but for some strange (and nefarious) reason, some ****** in power decided to make it expensive as **** here in the states. Those more in the know can elaborate better than I...but I hope some can get what I mean.

Nanjin, in his short time in the industry, realized that these things can be produced cheaply, without sacrificing quality. And from what I gather, other companies with that forward thinking were doing the same.

But then Howard caught on to what they were attempting to do and like any other douchey suit in power, wasn't having it and tried to snuff it out.

 

[Mike86]

The fact they were using existing COO bodies probably helped quite a bit, and the fact these were pretty simple outfits they were wearing compared to most other 1/6 figures these days.

Yeah. I mean really there’s a lot of re-usable items in these figures. When one was made they pretty much had a lot of what was needed for one produced for another. Alter the rankings on the sleeves for some and do new sculpts obviously. There’s only three types of uniform to worry about and all that really changes between them is the color and the department logo on the insignia.

 

[BrooklynWolf X]

You know, we can whine and blame companies for “greed” and the dirty word known as “the bottom line” but we are not the ones responsible for these companies and, yes, their BOTTOM LINE. We need to pause and get some perspective. It’s easy to be an idealist when all that you have to lose is an action figure.

Well yeah, ultimately we're talking about toys. But there's nothing wrong with airing our grievances. It is a forum to discuss things related to toys right? It's no different than you and others were...as you'd put it, "whining" about McCoy not being reissued and having to pay exorbitant after market prices. I'd could've jumped in and said "dude get some perspective. It's just a toy. Suck it up and accept it won't be reissued and just pay the $400"

But nah man, it's your annoyance and you're free to share it.

Nanjin was on the cusp of revolutionizing toy production...but it got stomped on.

Like, wow, wanting cheaper toys so I won't be alone in collecting...I must be OUT OF MY MIND.

Now if the convo were about the coronavirus and how it's affected shipments from china, that's a different story. If people were whining, crying and bit****g about not getting their toys and blaming china...THATS when you say "people are dying...GET SOME PERSPECTIVE"

So don't worry dude. We're just debating on companies and their sh***y practices. No harm in it.

Also, everytime nanjin pops in, I'm learning more and more about the toy industry. It's fascinating.

 

[nanjin]

Collecting supposed to be fun. From one item to an entire series should be a fun process.

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[Jgg1701]

Collecting supposed to be fun. From one item to an entire series should be a fun process.

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Totally agree!
-Jim G.G.

 

[gin007]

Bottom line for me -- I hope Nanjin starts his own company and grabs the ST license next time it is up.

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[Jgg1701]

Hey, anyone else here remember the good old days when Playmates Toys had their Star Trek line and it was the " thrill of the hunt'' going to almost every toy store to go and find them one by one and continue to add them to our collection?
I miss those days. ��
-Jim G.G.

 

[Jgg1701]

.... When there were actually toy stores that is.

 

[nanjin]

Hey, anyone else here remember the good old days when Playmates Toys had their Star Trek line and it was the " thrill of the hunt'' going to almost every toy store to go and find them one by one and continue to add them to our collection?
I miss those days. ��
-Jim G.G.

That's the 80s... Toy R Us era. I think Toynami George was the rep then. Btw, the founder of Playmates just past away.

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[Jgg1701]

Hey!
I have that Master piece Kirk as well.
Too cool.
-Jim G.G.

 

[dobby59]

Correct. Nanjin was Star Trek at QMx.

 

[superdoug]

Collecting supposed to be fun. From one item to an entire series should be a fun process.

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Amen!

 

[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

Collecting is fun. Until collectors don't get what they want. Then, look out.

 

[nanjin]

From the neck down beside body, arms, hands paintup, was done by me... highlighting with deluded ink, dry brushing the parts....

I was like a 6 years old walking around the factory showing off Khan to everyone (This was how I connected with my number tailor - the Janitor)

So much hope.... and I thought everyone would have Khan....

That's 2017...

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[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

From the neck down beside body, arms, hands paintup, was done by me...

I'm sorry, I don't understand... do you mean you only did the neck and head?

 

[nanjin]

I'm sorry, I don't understand... do you mean you only did the neck and head?

I did the outfits and parts

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[Steel & Flesh]

Collecting supposed to be fun. From one item to an entire series should be a fun process.

It stopped being fun for me when a certain generation decided it was ok to purchase an item deemed cool by their peers, display it on a shelf with no doubt a video posted on youtube of themselves with the item then pack it all up and sell it on ebay for three times the price they payed for it.

When I complained on a forum about this stupid activity I was scolded and given all sorts of BS excuses like it's their item they can do what they like with it. I told them it's not that easy if Hot Toys catches on they will double their prices, well guess what Hot Toys did. Those very same idiots that used excuses gave me more BS like inflation and started asking even more money on ebay, people are just to greedy and selfish and now we are in overpriced hell.

 

[nanjin]

Addiction dude! For most people, it is an addiction.

I worked in the Addiction Business (gambling). Video Games are actually Gambling's cousin. I will also say, Pop Culture merchandise is also Gambling's cousins.

Is all about addiction.

And production areas are casinos. Bootleggers are illegal bookies.

This is how I play the game in production, just like how i dealt with the mobs or governement in Vegas. No difference. It worked [emoji1787]

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[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

It stopped being fun for me when a certain generation decided it was ok to purchase an item deemed cool by their peers, display it on a shelf with no doubt a video posted on youtube of themselves with the item then pack it all up and sell it on ebay for three times the price they payed for it.

When I complained on a forum about this stupid activity I was scolded and given all sorts of BS excuses like it's their item they can do what they like with it. I told them it's not that easy if Hot Toys catches on they will double their prices, well guess what Hot Toys did. Those very same idiots that used excuses gave me more BS like inflation and started asking even more money on ebay, people are just to greedy and selfish and now we are in overpriced hell.

Greedy and selfish? Do you feel the same way about homes being auctioned, and cars, and collector items like paintings and antiques? What about companies that sell to make a profit—this is 100% of all businesses! We all may whine about the prices but the reality is the value of an item is exactly that amount that a buyer is willing to pay at any given moment. There is nothing immoral about this "activity" and the sellers are not "idiots." This is exactly what businesses do: buy something for a lesser amount and sell it for a greater amount. Like others have said, an item is yours. You can keep it, trade it or sell it. If I want it bad enough I'll buy it and say, "thank you sir may I have another!" and I'll be grateful there is an Ebay by which I can contribute to my collection. We're very fortunate to have an opportunity to buy something much later if we missed out in the retail market. I've developed interests in collecting certain lines years after retailers have run out of stock. I'm thankful for other collectors and the secondary market, understanding that there is a price to pay for a rare MIB collectible years after its initial release. Still, I'll complain about the price just like the next guy. But I hope to not go overboard and vilify a seller or the practice of selling his stuff as from a "greedy, selfish" generation of "idiots" and their "stupid" activity. I'm 61, I know stupid youngsters, but these aren't they. Nanjin is right, it's about addiction. If you don't want to pay for that fix, lose the addiction—especially if that fix is no longer fun.